---
title: "What Is Succession planning? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "Planning who will take over a practice, and how, before the owner steps away, whether by sale, hand-off to an associate or another route."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/succession-planning
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Ownership and transitions

# Succession planning

Planning who will take over a practice, and how, before the owner steps away, whether by sale, hand-off to an associate or another route.

Succession planning is the work of preparing for a change of leadership or ownership. The ADA says older dentists should have a well-planned strategy for stepping down, which may include selling the practice or transferring patients to a younger partner.

Plans can cover timing, a successor, price, the role of the current owner after a sale, and care for patients. Tools often include a [buy-sell agreement](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/buy-sell-agreement) and a [practice valuation](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-valuation). Succession planning is closely tied to an [exit strategy](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/exit-strategy), though the first focuses on who comes next.

Legal and tax details vary. Owners should work with their own attorney, CPA and financial adviser. This entry gives a definition only.

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Exit strategy](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/exit-strategy)
-   [Buy-sell agreement](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/buy-sell-agreement)
-   [Practice transition](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-transition)
-   [Partial exit](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/partial-exit)

## Sources

1.  [ADA, Joining and Leaving the Dental Practice](https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/joining-and-leaving-the-dental-practice)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)